Dodgers announcer urges Tucker demotion

The Los Angeles Dodgers can’t wait for Kyle Tucker to magically break out of his season-long struggles. The move has not delivered the expected results.

Tucker is batting .230 with an OPS of .692 this season. His difficulties extend beyond the plate. He ranks in the fifth percentile in MLB with negative-7 Outs Above Average and has negative-9 Defensive Runs Saved. In the last two games, he misplayed two routine fly balls in right field.

During Monday’s broadcast of the Dodgers’ game against the Colorado Rockies, SportsNet LA analyst Eric Karros suggested a bold step. The former Dodgers first baseman said the team should consider a demotion.

“I honestly think the best thing right now is a reset,” Karros said. “You’ve had a month and a half to try adjustments. A change of scenery might help.”

Tucker went 0-for-5 in Monday’s game and is hitless in his last 25 at-bats. He’s also 0-for-19 on the current homestand, drawing boos from Dodger Stadium fans. The slump has persisted all season, but recent defensive errors have intensified calls for action.

Karros rejected the idea that Tucker’s contract should protect him. “You can’t focus on the money or his past success,” he said. “Right now, you have a talented player who isn’t performing. Something needs to shift.”

A minor-league demotion isn’t straightforward. Tucker would need to agree to the move, and the Dodgers would have to persuade him it’s necessary. If he refuses, the team could place him on the 10-day injured list for a mental or physical break—a strategy other clubs have used to give players space without a formal demotion.

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“I’d talk to him first and see if he’s open to it,” Karros said.

The Dodgers still owe Tucker nearly $200 million over the next three years. With the team in playoff contention, they can’t carry a player who isn’t producing.

Tucker’s decline has been unusually rapid. Few players with his track record have struggled this severely in a single season.

The team faces a difficult choice. Sending Tucker to the minors would signal the original plan failed, but keeping him in the lineup risks further damage to his confidence and the team’s performance. Change is necessary.

“It’s not just hitting—it’s defense, it’s everything,” Karros said. “This isn’t working.”

As the Dodgers weigh their options, fans remain frustrated. The projected starting lineup for other teams looks stronger with each passing game.